Rasai Devi – Information About Hindu Goddess Rasai Devi

Goddess Rasai Devi, also referred as Ma Rasai, is a manifestation of Mother Goddess and is worshipped mainly in Maharashtra. She is a village deity. The main temples dedicated to the Goddess are located in Pune District in Maharashtra.

Once there was a severe drought. As a result, nothing grew there—neither grains nor vegetables. At that time, all the people prayed fervently to the Goddess. The Goddess answered their call and removed their suffering. Vegetables began to grow again, and food grains became plentiful. She is named Rasai, meaning “the Goddess seated upon heaps of grain.” According to this folk legend, devotees believe that the Goddess Rasai fulfills vows made to her.

Rasai Devi is the family deity (kuladevata) of the Yadavas of Devagiri. At the foothills of Devagiri Fort, there is a self-manifested (swayambhu) temple of Rasai in a cave. A myth associated with this place says that Goddess Rasai once lifted the Devagiri hill on her little finger. Another story about this Goddess says that after the fall of the Yadava kingdom of Devagiri, there was a magnificent temple of Rasai in the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, which was established by the brothers Harihara and Bukka.

She was the royal family deity of the kings of Vijayanagara. Rasai Devi is mentioned in Mahipati’s Bhaktavijay (Chapters 42–46). It is stated there that when a Brahmin from Pandharpur, driven by a desire for wealth, went to Vidyanagar (Vijayanagara), King Krishnadevaraya informed him about the temple of Rasai (Rajai). The text says: “Such a deity as Rajai cannot be found even if searched across the three worlds; we have neither heard of nor seen such a deity,” says Krishnaraja. The Devikosha states that the form of Goddess Rasai is similar to that of Shitala or Jyeshtha Devi.

The worship of Rasai Devi is prevalent in Maharashtra as well as Karnataka. In Pune district, temples of Rasai Devi are found at Vadgaon Rasai (Tal. Shirur), Nanagaon (Tal. Daund), and even submerged in the waters of the dam on the Bhima River. Similarly, there are temples at Asandoli (Tal. Gaganbawada), Shendur (Tal. Kagal), Savardi (Tal. Amravati), Chafed (Tal. Devgad), Keloshi Budruk (Tal. Radhanagari), and in the village of Rasai Shendur in Karnataka. Rasai Devi is regarded as the village goddess (Gramadevata) of Achirne and as a powerful, awakened shrine. A temple has been constructed for the Goddess here, situated in a large open, ground-like area.

Goddess Rasai Devi is a kind form of Goddess Shakti. She showers motherly love on her children. The murti or idol of Rasai Devi symbolizes kinds and motherly affection.

She is worshipped for peace, prosperity, protection, good agriculture, healthy children, early cure of diseases and for victory over enemies.

A main attraction of the murti is the large eyes. Her hands are in blessing posture. She is dressed like a Marathi woman.

Rasai Devi removes darkness caused by Adharma. She upholds righteousness by protecting those who practice Dharma.